5:33 am - February 14, 2026
The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) in Abu Dhabi is leading a pioneering initiative to register, rigorously test, and operationally approve autonomous vehicles (AVs), ensuring these innovations meet stringent safety and compliance standards. This effort aligns tightly with Abu Dhabi’s broader vision for smart mobility, underpinning the emirate’s commitment to innovation and sustainable future-focused transportation solutions.
Central to this drive is Masdar City, recognised internationally as a hub for clean technology and home to the Smart Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster. Masdar City functions as a real-world testbed for next-generation sustainable mobility, inviting global manufacturers to trial their Level 4 autonomous vehicles within its integrated urban environment. This level of automation signifies a significant technological advance, where vehicles operate independently within a defined geofenced area, providing a high degree of autonomy that could revolutionise urban transport.
The trial vehicles navigate a carefully designed 2.4-kilometre route linking pivotal locations across Masdar City, including the Siemens building, North Car Park, My City Centre Masdar mall, and Central Park, while passing landmarks such as the International Renewable Energy Agency headquarters, MC2, and The Link. Initial runs feature onboard safety officers, transitioning toward fully remote-controlled operation via a centralised control room as confidence in the system increases.
Ahmed Baghoum, CEO of Masdar City, highlighted the significance of the level 4 testing, calling it a substantial leap forward in autonomous vehicle capabilities that perfectly complements their vision to innovate cities of the future through digital integration and environmental responsibility. This initiative not only underpins Abu Dhabi’s goal to foster innovation in transportation but also strengthens the emirate’s global standing in smart city and clean technology leadership.
The collaboration with Solutions+, a Mubadala company and prominent smart mobility provider, underscores the strategic partnerships critical to refining this technology. Ali Alyafei, Chief Operations Officer at Solutions+, noted that testing in Masdar City’s unique environment — combining cutting-edge infrastructure with a commitment to sustainability — is paramount for perfecting AV technologies. This cooperation aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, emphasising how such innovations support the development of smarter, more sustainable urban ecosystems.
Beyond Masdar City, the ITC has also expanded Abu Dhabi’s autonomous vehicle operations significantly. The Autonomous RoboTaxi service, running in collaboration with Autogo and Apollo Go, has been enhanced with a new generation of electric, AI-powered vehicles designed to improve road safety by reducing human error and to promote environmental sustainability by lowering emissions and easing traffic congestion. As part of a phased plan, autonomous vehicles have completed over 30,000 trips across Yas and Saadiyat Islands, totaling more than 430,000 kilometres, with recent expansion to routes servicing access to and from Zayed International Airport. This evolution supports a broader objective to increase autonomous vehicle trip shares to 25 percent of total journeys in Abu Dhabi by 2040.
Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director-General of the ITC, describes these initiatives as critical milestones for Abu Dhabi in embracing future transport technologies. He emphasises the commitment to creating an integrated regulatory framework that facilitates innovation and accelerates the uptake of smart mobility solutions, positioning the emirate as a global leader in this field.
This comprehensive approach — combining cutting-edge technology trials, strategic partnerships, and regulatory innovation — showcases Abu Dhabi’s ambition to serve as a global hub for smart cities and sustainable transportation. Masdar City’s longstanding leadership, which dates back to its initial autonomous vehicle deployments in 2010, continues through these latest Level 4 trials, reaffirming its pivotal role in shaping the urban mobility landscape of the future.
📌 Reference Map:
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://abudhabimagazine.ae/66305/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/transport/integrated-transport-centre-abu-dhabi-mobility-expands-pilot-autonomous-robotaxi-service/ – The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) has expanded its Autonomous RoboTaxi service in collaboration with Autogo and Apollo Go. This expansion is part of a strategic partnership aiming for a full-scale launch by 2026, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s vision for smart mobility. The sixth generation of RoboTaxi vehicles (RT6) features an electric design and AI-powered systems for accurate navigation and responsiveness to real-time road conditions. These vehicles aim to enhance road safety by reducing human error and support environmental sustainability by lowering emissions and alleviating traffic congestion. Dr Abdulla AlGhfeli, Acting Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre, highlighted the initiative as a pivotal milestone in Abu Dhabi’s journey towards smart mobility, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a global leader in this field. ([mediaoffice.abudhabi](https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/transport/integrated-transport-centre-abu-dhabi-mobility-expands-pilot-autonomous-robotaxi-service/?utm_source=openai))
- https://admobility.gov.ae/en/news/autonomous-vehicle – The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) has completed approximately 30,000 autonomous vehicle service trips in Abu Dhabi, covering over 430,000 kilometres. Building on the success of the project in Yas and Saadiyat Islands, the scope of autonomous vehicle operations has been expanded to include the access roads to and from Zayed International Airport. This expansion is part of Abu Dhabi Mobility’s plan for the gradual rollout of services in new areas across the emirate. The initiative aims to develop the smart transport sector by promoting the use of advanced technologies in sustainable mobility, with a goal to increase the percentage of trips using autonomous vehicles to 25% of total trips in Abu Dhabi by 2040. ([admobility.gov.ae](https://admobility.gov.ae/en/news/autonomous-vehicle?utm_source=openai))
- https://solutionsplus.ae/masdar-city-trials-next-generation-autonomous-vehicles/ – Masdar City has begun testing Level 4 autonomous vehicles in partnership with smart mobility provider Solutions+, a Mubadala company. The initiative, overseen by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), involves the registration, testing, and operational approval of autonomous vehicles, ensuring safety, compliance, and alignment with Abu Dhabi’s broader vision for smart mobility. Level 4 automation enables vehicles to operate entirely on their own within a specific geofenced zone. Masdar City offers a real-world testbed for advanced sustainable mobility by inviting global manufacturers to test their Level 4 AVs within its integrated urban ecosystem. ([solutionsplus.ae](https://solutionsplus.ae/masdar-city-trials-next-generation-autonomous-vehicles/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2025/07/11/abu-dhabis-masdar-city-begins-trials-of-self-driving-shuttle-service/ – Masdar City in Abu Dhabi has launched trials of a self-driving shuttle service that transports passengers around a 2.4km route. The route connects several locations within Masdar City, including the Siemens building, North Car Park, My City Centre Masdar mall, and Central Park, and navigates past landmarks such as the International Renewable Energy Agency headquarters, MC2, and The Link. The trials, overseen by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), mark a significant milestone in Abu Dhabi’s vision to embrace future transport technologies and reaffirm the commitment to providing an integrated regulatory environment that supports innovation and accelerates the adoption of smart mobility solutions. ([thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2025/07/11/abu-dhabis-masdar-city-begins-trials-of-self-driving-shuttle-service/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2025/07/11/masdar-city-starts-trial-run-of-level-4-autonomous-vehicles – Masdar City has begun testing Level 4 autonomous vehicles in partnership with smart mobility provider Solutions+, a Mubadala company. The initiative, overseen by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), involves the registration, testing, and operational approval of autonomous vehicles, ensuring safety, compliance, and alignment with Abu Dhabi’s broader vision for smart mobility. The vehicles are following a comprehensive 2.4km test route that links several important locations, such as the Siemens building, North Car Park, My City Centre Masdar mall, and Central Park, navigating past prominent landmarks including the International Renewable Energy Agency headquarters, MC2, and The Link. The AVs initially have safety officers onboard but will transition to fully autonomous operation from a centralized remote control room as the programme progresses. ([gulftoday.ae](https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2025/07/11/masdar-city-starts-trial-run-of-level-4-autonomous-vehicles?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being July 11, 2025. No earlier versions with differing figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content is not recycled or republished across low-quality sites. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The article includes updated data and new material, justifying a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The quotes from Ahmed Baghoum, CEO of Masdar City, and Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director-General of the ITC, are unique to this narrative. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, Masdar City, and is corroborated by multiple reputable outlets, including Gulf News ([gulfnews.com](https://gulfnews.com/uae/transport/abu-dhabi-tests-next-generation-driverless-vehicles-1.500194664?utm_source=openai)) and The National ([thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2025/07/11/abu-dhabis-masdar-city-begins-trials-of-self-driving-shuttle-service/?utm_source=openai)). However, the primary source is a press release, which may have inherent biases.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Masdar City testing Level 4 autonomous vehicles align with recent developments in Abu Dhabi’s smart mobility initiatives. The narrative is consistent with known facts, and the details provided are plausible. The tone and language are appropriate for the region and topic.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with original quotes and corroborated by reputable sources. The claims are plausible and consistent with known developments in Abu Dhabi’s smart mobility initiatives. The source is reliable, though originating from a press release.
